Effect of dry-cleaned clothes on tetrachloroethylene levels in indoor air, personal air, and breath for residents of several New Jersey homes
- Analytical and Chemical Sciences, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States)
Several volatile organic compounds, including tetrachloroethylene, have been found to be nearly ubiquitous in residential indoor environments during previous TEAM studies. Eleven homes in New Jersey were monitored over three or five days to examine the effect of bringing freshly dry-cleaned clothes into the home on indoor air levels and personal exposures to tetrachloroethylene. Indoor air, personal air, and breath concentrations were measured over multiple 12-hrs periods before and after dry-cleaned clothes were introduced into nine of the homes. No dry-cleaned clothes were introduced into the two remaining homes. Outdoor air tetrachloroethylene concentrations were measured at six of the eleven homes. Indoor/outdoor concentration ratios and source strengths were calculated at the six homes with outdoor measurements. Elevated indoor air levels and human exposures to tetrachloroethylene were measured at seven of the nine homes with dry-cleaned clothes. Indoor air concentrations reached 300 micrograms/m3 in one home and elevated indoor levels persisted for at least 48 hrs in all seven homes. Indoor/outdoor tetrachloroethylene concentration ratios exceeded 100 for the four homes with both dry-cleaned clothes and outdoor measurements. Maximum source strengths ranged from 16 to 69 mg/hr in these homes and did not directly correspond to the number of dry-cleaned garments brought into the home. Breath levels of tetrachloroethylene increased two to six-fold for participants living in seven homes with increased indoor air levels. Indoor air, personal air, and breath tetrachloroethylene concentrations were significantly related (0.05 level) to the number of garments introduced divided by the home volume.
- OSTI ID:
- 7129324
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Esposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Esposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology; (United States) Vol. 1:4; ISSN 1053-4245; ISSN JEAEE
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ANIMALS
BUILDINGS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HOUSES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MAMMALS
MAN
MONITORING
NEW JERSEY
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION SOURCES
PRIMATES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
USA
VERTEBRATES